VIENNA (AFP) A new vaccine against Alzheimer's, developed by the Austrian biotechnology firm Affiris, will soon be tested in six European countries, the company announced Friday.
Some 420 patients will be recruited to take part in clinical trials in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Slovakia, Affiris said in a statement.
The AD02 vaccine, developed with British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, was already tested for safety and tolerability over the past year.
The clinical trials will now test its efficacy, with results expected as early as 2012, the company said.
ADO2 is meant to prevent the building up of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which cause the degradation of nerve cells and are believed to play a crucial role in causing Alzheimer's disease.
The vaccine works by causing the body to attack these plaques by producing more antibodies, Till Jelitto, a spokesman for Affiris, told AFP.
More specifically, these antibodies are meant to attack only the part of the beta-amyloid protein that causes the plaques, he added.
This would reduce the risk for patients, as the protein as a whole already exists in healthy individuals.
The current vaccine is therapeutic, meaning it is aimed at treating patients already affected by the disease. But if results are positive, the technology could also be used to manufacture a prophylactic, or preventative, vaccine, Jelitto said.
In 2001, tests for a first vaccine against Alzheimer's disease were conducted in the United States and Europe but had to be cut short after serious side effects emerged.
Another vaccine was tested in Sweden in 2005.
Alzheimer's disease, also known as AD, is a neuro-degenerative disease that affects cognitive functions, further impacting patients' behaviour and social adaptation.
The disease, which still has no known cure, affects about six million people in Europe every year.
Affiris is also working on vaccines against Parkinson's and atherosclerosis.
Two men, including an employee of telecommunications company Claro, accused of stealing more than $5 million from the company, appeared in court on Thursday. Matthew McLeod, 25, a treasury clerk at Claro and Xavier Bedasee, 23, pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and conspiracy. They were charged this week following an investigation by the Fraud Squad. It is reported that over the past two years, Claro has been hit by lawsuits from persons who leased lands to the company to set up its cell sites. The land owners accused the company of failing to honour monthly obligations to pay them. There were 23 complaints and this prompted the management to conduct an investigation. The probe revealed that Mr. McLeod had been taking signed cheques prepared for the land owners out of the system. He allegedly handed the cheques to his friend, Mr. Bedasee, who would encash the cheques at a Cambio in New Kingston. Both men then pocketed the money. The cops say cheques valued at more than US$50,000 were stolen in the scam. Mr. McLeod and Mr. Bedasee are on station bail and are to return to court on May 19. |
Destroyed ... two kids were killed in the fire
The kids, named locally as Niamh, 5, and two-year-old Cayden, died when a blaze ripped through the end of terrace house.
Neighbours said their mum Fiona Adams had been taken to hospital and escaped with an eight-month-old baby.
Police in Derbyshire said the fire service were called to the house in Buxton just after 11.45pm last night.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said police had already been called to the house after reports of noise and nuisance in the garden.
He said nothing was found when officers attended.
He said the incident had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The fire-ravaged end-of-terrace house was today cordoned off as the probe continued.
Its roof was completely burnt through and upstairs windows and front door clearly destroyed by fire.
Onlookers gathered in the wake of the tragedy, some bringing flowers to the scene.
Neighbour Karen Jackson, who has known Fiona for seven years, said she had been at the scene since around midnight last night.
She said: "My friend Fiona's cousin told me about it and I came straight out.
"Fiona had already gone to the hospital, Cayden and Niamh were still in the house, they were trapped.
"They were brilliant, a lovely family. Fiona loved the kids to bits, they would do anything for the kids.
"Everyone liked them, everyone. They didn't have any enemies.
"It's heartbreaking, I'm still in shock now. I just feel numb."
Floral tributes and teddy bears dedicated to Niamh and Cayden were placed at the scene.
One read: "Cayden, rest in peace little man."
Another said: "Sleep with the angels little darlings, God bless."
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
Five persons were killed gangland-style in volatile Bird Hill Avenue of Meggie Top in Salt Spring, St James, on Saturday night in yet another murder/arson which has left the community traumatised and residents cowering in fear.
Two bullet-riddled bodies were found along a track in a section of the community while another three bodies, which were reduced to smouldering ash, were found in the burnt-out remains of a wooden house. The house was apparently torched after the three individuals were shot and killed.
The two bodies left intact have been identified as those of 23-year-old Elton 'Scrammy' Hinds, a mechanic of a Bird Hill Avenue address; and 20-year-old tattoo artist Cornel 'Dimarco' Brown, who is of a Meggie Top address.
Two of the victims identified in the house are Damion Brooks and 20-year-old Byron Powell, whose addresses are not known. Last night, the fifth body was yet to be identified.
Residents say they were awakened about 3 a.m. by heavy gunfire. Shortly after, neighbours noticed that a two-bedroom wooden house was on fire.
"It sound like the shot dem was firing at my doorway," one shaken resident who wished not to be identified told The Gleaner. "I quickly slide under me bed, put the chimmy (chamber pot) on my head and just start beg God to spare me until daylight."
While some bewildered residents looked on in shock as police scene-of-crime technicians processed the spot where two of the bodies were found, others spoke in hushed tones, relating their individual experiences of horror.
"We are not getting much information from the people," a policeman on the scene told The Gleaner. "In situations like these, people are usually reluctant to speak."
Henry McCurdy, the People's National Party (PNP) vice-chairman for Region Six and constituency caretaker for the area, who was on the scene, described it as yet another example of the wanton lawless which has resulted in some 79 murders in Montego Bay since the start of the year.
Special crime plan needed
"This is another sad day for law-abiding citizens as we are once again left in fear on account of these rampaging killers," said McCurdy. "I am calling on the new commissioner of police (Owen Ellington) to develop a special crime plan for Montego Bay because the city is being destroyed by lawlessness."
The latest killing evoked memories of a similar incident in the same community on April 18 last year when marauding gunmen invaded a wake in Buck Toe Lane and killed cousins, 22-year-old Ricardo Rickettes, 26-year-old Roy Rickettes Jr and 24-year-old Fabian Bailey.
- adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com
One year old child found pregnant in Saudi Arabia. Doctors says its a unique case for this world! Medical Science Report says : When the mother of this child was pregnant, she had 2 fetuses inside her. But one of the fetus grew inside the other, this why this girl was born with the other fetus inside her womb.
Entertainment personality Ghetto Bomb who is perhaps most known for his duties doing street promotions for the Big Ship Family,says he was threatened by Black Ryno on Saturday.
Ghetto Bomb, said that while was riding his scooter along Hope Road, after visiting his mother at the University Hospital, when the incident happened. He also said that he has no personal rivalry with the deejay, but said he thinks he knows the root of the attack.
Earlier reports about the confrontation said there was a physical fight between the two, but Ghetto Bomb denied those claims in a Zipsclusive interview.
When Black Ryno was contacted by the Z he denied the claims, saying he has been busy in the studio with producer Supa Blunt, working on new singles.
Black Ryno
LONDON (AFP) Aliens may exist but mankind should avoid contact with them as the consequences could be devastating, British scientist Stephen Hawking warned Sunday.
"If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans," said the astrophysicist in a new television series, according to British media reports.
The programmes depict an imagined universe featuring alien life forms in huge spaceships on the hunt for resources after draining their own planet dry.
"Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach," warned Hawking.
The doomsday scenario is suggested in the series "Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking" on the Discovery Channel, which began airing in the United States on Sunday.
On the probability of alien life existing, he says: "To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational.
"The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like."
Glowing squid-like creatures, herds of herbivores that can hang onto a cliff face and bright yellow predators that kill their prey with stinging tails are among the creatures that stalk the scientist's fantastical cosmos.
Mankind has already made a number of attempts to contact extraterrestrial civilisations.
In 2008, American space agency NASA beamed the Beatles song "Across the Universe" into deep space to send a message of peace to any alien that happens to be in the region of Polaris -- also known as the North Star -- in 2439.
But the history of humanity's efforts to contact aliens stretches back some years.
The US probes Pioneer 10 and 11 were launched in 1972 and 1973 bearing plaques of a naked man and woman and symbols seeking to convey the positions of the Earth and the Sun.
Voyager 1 and 2, launched in 1977, each carry a gold-plated copper phonogram disk with recordings of sounds and images on Earth.
thinks this idea could go vice-versa also
The Government of Jamaica has come to the aid of deejay Vybz Kartel following his ban from performing in the sister Caribbean island of St Lucia.
Head of communications at the trade ministry, Wilton Dyer, said the ministry has contacted its high commission in Trinidad & Tobago which has responsibility for St Lucia and also intends to speak with Vybz Kartel as they probe the decision to ban the artiste.
There is concern as to whether the ban imposed by the government of St Lucia on the deejay has breached the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Free Movement of Skills Initiative which relates to artistes, sports persons, musicians and media workers.
Mi hear say Vybz Kartel get braces and all these things. Braces ah the new status symbol inna the dancehall right now, Vegas, Dancehall Queen Stacie, Vybz Kartel, Cecile, ah bagga people inna the business do it and now the Gaza Dads do fi him own. Murder! The riches ah show pon him, because mi hear say the braces dem a full platinum (lol).
http://dancehallvibesradio.com/DANCEHALL_NEWS.html
THE Government of Jamaica is siding with deejay Vybz Kartel following his ban from performing in the sister Caribbean island of St Lucia and now has the matter under investigation.
Wilton Dyer, head of communications at the trade ministry said the ministry has contacted its high commission in Trinidad & Tobago which has responsibility for St Lucia and also intends to speak with Vybz Kartel as they probe the decision to ban the artiste.
There is concern as to whether the ban imposed by the government of St Lucia on the deejay has breached the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Free Movement of Skills Initiative which relates to artistes, sports persons, musicians and media workers.
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A number of traffic signs were seized by police personnel from the Kingston West Division yesterday after men were seen transporting them on handcarts.
When THE STAR contacted the Denham Town Police Station last night, an inspector said the signs were newly installed and were removed by criminals shortly after.
"During an operation yesterday in sections of the division, a group of men were seen carrying several of the signs on handcarts. These signs were newly installed throughout sections of the division," the Inspector explained.
The recovered signs included 'STOP', 'No Parking', 'No Right Turn' and 'No U-Turn'.
THE STAR was further told that the men ran leaving behind the signs and handcarts as the police tried to accost them.
The men are believed to be from the area and the police say they will be conducting investigations not to just find the identity of those culprits but also to prevent further thefts.
According to the police, the removal of the signs has caused confusion for motorists and as such they are appealing to persons to stop.
"It is illegal and it has caused a lot of confusion for people who have to use the roads ... We the police are begging persons to desist," the Inspector said.
The police say they theorise the signs recently seized would have been sold to players in the illegal scrap metal trade.
A radical Islamic website is warning the creators of "South Park" that they could face violent retribution for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit during an episode broadcast on Comedy Central last week.
A radical Islamic website is warning the creators of "South Park" that they could face violent retribution for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit during an episode broadcast on Comedy Central last week.
RevolutionMuslim.com posted the warning following the 200th episode of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "South Park," which included a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad disguised in a bear suit. The Web posting also included a graphic photo of Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who was murdered in 2004 after making a documentary on violence against Muslim women.
"We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," the posting reads. "This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."
Reaching by phone early Tuesday, Abu Talhah al Amrikee, the author of the post, said he wrote the entry to "raise awareness." He said the grisly photograph of van Gogh was meant to "explain the severity" of what Parker and Stone did by mocking Muhammad.
"It's not a threat, but it really is a likely outcome," al Amrikee said, referring to the possibility that Parker and Stone could be murdered for mocking Muhammad. "They're going to be basically on a list in the back of the minds of a large number of Muslims. It's just the reality."
Al Amrikee said the website is considering a protest against the "disgusting" show, which also depicted the Prophet Muhammad in an episode on July 4, 2001.
"This is not a small thing," he said. "We should do whatever we can to make sure it does not happen again."
The posting on RevolutionMuslim.com also includes audio of a sermon by Anwar al-Awlaki -- a radical U.S.-born preacher now believed to be hiding in Yemen -- who discusses assassinating individuals who defame the Prophet Muhammad. It also included a link to a 2009 story in the Huffington Post that gave details of Stone and Parker's mansion in Colorado.
A Comedy Central spokesman told FoxNews.com that the network has no comment on the posting.
DANCEHALL deejay Ninja Man, who along with his son and two other men are charged with murder, will return to the Home Circuit Court today as the trial continues.
Ninja Man, whose real name is Desmond Ballentine, along with his son Janeil, Dennis Clayton and Seymour Samuels, have been jointly charged with the murder of Robert Johnson, who was shot and killed in Tower Hill, St Andrew last year.
Police alleged that the four, who were travelling in a grey motor car, drove up to Johnsons home at Marl Road in St Andrew and fired several shots hitting Johnson.
Ninja Man has repeatedly been denied bail but another bail application is expected to be filed by his attorney today.
Lisa Hype is now in Trinidad where she will perform at a nightclub on Saturday, however, she will also be using the opportunity to do high-calibre collaborations with noted Trinidadian artistes while in the country.
"There is a growing demand for Lisa Hype in Trinidad, and I am looking forward to interacting with my fans. Also I have been approached to do a couple collaborations with a few soca artistes so I will be using my time to get in some recordings as well," she told one876.
Recent Lisa Hype recordings such as Call to Addi, and her collaboration Bad Gal No Tek Style with Stylish, a member of Hyper's 21 Bad Gyal crew, have also been generating excellent radio play on IRIE, HITZ, and ZIP. She is booked to appear on the Bad Gyal show on May 8 in Negril on an all-female show featuring Spice, Toya, Ikaya, Pamputae, Jain Gotti and others.
Lisa Hyper launched her latest video for the popular single, Trust on CVM's popular E Strip programme and on HYPE TV's Up and Live, this week, and the release could not be more timely given the controversial firestorm created around x-rated photos of women performing oral sex on Vybz Kartel a few weeks ago. The controversy has dredged up photos of Lisa Hype that were leaked on the Internet last year.
"All I have to say to the young girls out there is that they have to know who to trust in these times. Men can be vindictive, this is the information age where incriminating photos can be published all over the world with just a touch of a button. Just learn from Lisa Hyper example and keep your thing circumspect," Lisa Hype said.
Lisa Hyper's hit single, Bills, featuring Gaza Kim peaked at #3 on the HYPE TV TOP 20 singles charts. The single also hit the top ten of the RE TV dancehall charts and the top ten on the Jamaica Music Countdown charts.